7 foreigners nabbed for allegedly operating Parañaque scam hub

Authorities nabbed three Chinese, three Indonesians, and a Malaysian national in Parañaque City over their alleged involvement in the operations of a scam hub, Oscar Oida and Saleema Refran reported on “24 Oras” on Monday.

Southern Police District (SPD) Chief Police Brigadier General Kirby Kraft said an informant had tipped them off on the illegal business in Barangay Tambo.

“May nagpunta po dito na informant na sinasabi niya na meron nga pong nakadetain na Indonesians doon sa lugar…Base po sa affidavit ng ating mga victims after ng office hours bumabalik sila sa dormitory at doon di na sila palabasin. Wala silang karapatan magliwaliw o mamasyal kung saan nila gusto,” Kraft said.

(An informant told us that there were Indonesians detained in the area. Based on the victims’ affidavit, they return to their dormitories after office hours and are locked in. They are also not allowed out to relax.)

The Indonesian Embassy earlier took in 43 of their nationals rescued from a scam hub. Three Malaysians were also freed during the rescue.

One of the victims said they were initially offered a marketing and trading job.

“They teach us like you have to scam people from other countries like from Europe, the US, Indonesia, and other countries...The system is like we fall in love with him and make him fall in love with us. So it's about 3 or four days. And then we ask them to make money thru crypto, just like that,” Linda (not her real name) said.

Linda also said their employers seized their passports, and they were punished if they did not meet their daily quota.

“For me, in my experience, I have to squat jump like... 200 yeah, 200 squat jumps or push up for man,” she added.

The Indonesian Embassy was continuously coordinating with the SPD on the human trafficking and serious illegal detention cases filed against the suspects.

“The suspects are under the interrogation of the SPD so we will follow the process here after the interrogation is finished,” Indonesian Embassy First Secretary Nona Siska Noviyanti said. — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News